Cask Beer Week 2005

August 29, 2005: The Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) has confirmed that this year’s Cask Beer Week will take place between September 16 and 25. Now in its fifth year, there will be a range of events and promotions aimed at celebrating the best of British beer.

Some popular features of previous campaigns - such as the Giant Pint Run, to be contested by the London and South East-based breweries - will take place again, through the streets of London on the first Friday of Cask Beer Week.

IFBB brewers in the South West are planning a promotional campaign, Cask Beer Cartography, aimed at demonstrating the wealth of brewing heritage among its members across the region.

Sampling schemes, such as Try Before You Buy, are also planned, enabling customers to have a taster of some of the different cask beer brands and flavours available. Meanwhile, proposals are also being developed by other members to have special edition summer ales available, further highlighting the diversity of cask beers.

“We are pleased that Cask Beer Week is now a regular highlight in the brewing calendar, giving brewers the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the best of British beers and British industry,” said Stephen Goodyear, chairman of the IFBB PR committee.

“Cask beer is part of our tradition and heritage, it is a natural product made from fresh local ingredients, and there are literally hundreds of different brands and flavours. IFBB members feel passionately about cask beer, and recognise the value in continuing to promote it through initiatives such as Cask Beer Week.”

In addition, the IFBB is welcoming interest from other brewers and stakeholders in the cask beer community to participate in cask Beer Week.

l The IFBB and CAMRA have recently submitted an application for Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status to be awarded to the terms cask beer, cask ale and cask conditioned beer. The application, which was put forward in 2004, is currently undergoing consultation with other brewing industry bodies and the IFBB is hopeful that a positive conclusion will be reached in time for Cask Beer Week 2006.